Semitrailer



R.y B.l JONESy Dec. 27, 1927'.I

SEMITRAILER Filed Feb. 18. 1925 2y Sheets-Sheet l Dec, 27, 1927.

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SEMITRAILER Filled Feb. 1a. 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 I a/ 7 .5 l w` I I :A l

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Patented ADec. A27, 1927.

UNITED STATES RUIUS B. JONES, 0F CINCINNATI, OIzIIO, ASSIGrNOIR. T0 THE TRAILMOBILE COMPANY,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CINCINNATI; OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. c

. snr/IITRAILER.

Application led February 18, 1926. Serial No. 89,207.

My invention relates to improvements in semi-trailers and isparticularly directed to the mechanism for supporting the coupling end of the semi-trailer when uncoupled from a drawing vehicle.

This type of trailer has its forward end adapted to be supported-on the rear of a tractor for both ,a draft and load sustaining connection and has its rear end provided with heavy service wheels for running ge'ar. A prop is provided at the forward end of the trailer as a supportfor'the same whenthe trailer is u'ncoupled from the drawi-'ng vehicle. r c

The drawing vehicle generally has an inclined surface or skid at its rear terminating forwardly in a horizontal support portion at its upper end so that the action of the drawing vehicle as it backs into the forward end of the trailer is to raise the same slightly from the ground before coupling thereto. This action raises the prop from the ground but not sufficientlyI to clear unevenness in the road surface. This prop is therefore pivoted to the frame so that it can he swung upwardly and clear road obstacles when the trailer and tractor are operating together.

Locking mechanism is provided on the propfor rigidly securing it in position for sustaining the trailer load andv this locking mechanism is provided with 'a manual re*- lease which necessarlly presents the hazard 'of accidental releasing of the locking mechanism when the trailer is in uncoupled position and is supported on the prop.

-Therefore an object of this invention is' to provide a locking mechanism for rigidly nonereleasaloly securing the prop to the frame of the trailer in load supporting position when the trailer is uncoupled, said lock releasalolefor permitting swing of the prop only when the forward end of the trailer .ciently spaced from the forward end of the has been raised from the ground;

Another object of my invention is to 'provide a prop on a semi-trailer which can he easily raised from the ground when the forward end lofthe trailer is supported on the drawing vehicle and the prop is not in use; having thereon a locking mechanism for automatically locking the prop to the frame when the trailer rests on the prop.l

. drawing vehicle.

Other objects and certain'A advantages will appear in the description of the aecompany- Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view ofV trailer and drawing vehicle as a unit. f

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View of line 5-5, Fig. 1 showing the prop pivot construction.

Figure-6 is a side elevation of thetrailer in uncoupled position and supported by its prop.

As shown 1n the drawingsfthe coupling mechanism at the rear of the drawing vehicle 1 consists of an inclined surface or skid 2 for guiding the upper fifth wheel 3 of the trailer onto the lower fifth wheel 4 on the drawing vehicle,v in the coupling operation and at the Same time. raising the -front end of the trailer 5 into support position on the c Means are provided (not shown) for automaticallv locking the fifth wheels together for a proper draft connec: tion. Inasmuch as the coupling means formsno part of this invention the mechanism used is not disclosed. The -upper fifth wheel is pivoted to the frame of the trailer as at 6in order that it may adjust itself to the angle of the skid 2 when the drawing vehicle carrying the skid backs under it in the coupling operation.

Depending from the frame 7 and suffitrailer sufficiently not to strike the skid, is the trailer prop mechanism. consisting of the depending portion 8 of the frame and the prop 9 pivoted thereto. Both the depending portion 8 of the frame and the propv are approximately U shaped, the depending portion 8 consisting of side members 11 suitably fastened to the frame and a cross -mem-C 35 the chain 40 thereto.

. vertica y ltran ber 1'2, these members 11'and 12 fastened together by the angle iron braces 13.extend ing rearward and upwardly to the -frame 7 The propconsists of channel iron side mem- 7bers 14 and the axle 15 forming the cross member. The depending portion 8 is pro- -vided with a pivot shaft 16 ap roximately at its upper end this shaft gieing journalled inV the side members 11 and 10' extending through a suilcient 'distance for shapedy depending portion 8 andzis spaced therefromby washers 17 and held upon the pivot shaft 16 by a nut 18 at one end and a collar 19- at the other. The channel irons of the prop are adjustably fastened to the axle 20' 15 by means of U shaped straps20 disposed about the lower .ends of the channels these U shaped straps 20 being bolted at .their Aba'septo the axle I5 by means of the 'bolts 21 and a plate 22. The straps are held to the channel-iron sides by the 'bolts 23 extending throughtheribs of the channels and the sides of the straps lbeing provided with'a series of apertures 24 adapting the sides and s hase or cross member of the U shaped prop to he adjustable -upoiieach other for length? enin the prop to ,accommodate various heig tof trailer anddrawin vehicle a A chain 25 is rovided -or raising the prop by swinging it on its pivot; one end .of

base of theprop and passm upwardly',and around a' frame at `t e rear ofe the prop and forward to the pivot l.shaft 16 and secured centrally f Rotation of theL ivot shaft Winds the chain thereahout an raises the prop to the desired height. vThe end ofthe pivot shaft 16 is squared to receive a handle 27 for rotating' the smeand a chain 28 arrying a ring is secured'to eframe .at he rear o1 the handle the ring adapted to 'he placed over the handle to prevent (as shown 1n dot Aand` dash lines Fig. 1) the prop from'drop- 5' pin back to its'lower position when the han e is released. -This windlass mechanism provides for ease of operation in raisvoin the weighty-prop,

e lockin -mechanism consists of brack` 55. ets 29 secure 'to the inner side of `the channels of the prop directly below. the base of theLde nding portion' 8 and latchpins 30 s atable'fin the brackets 29.

These latch pins extend vertically through 09 extending yribs on the brackets their upper.

endladapte'd to-enter apertures 31 in the cross member or base of the depending portion 8 of tlieframe.V

'A cross shaft 32 mounted in the 'prop is 5 provided, and rotatably secured therewith ero ends` of the being fastened centrally vof the lpulley 26 secure to the trailer'y are releasingmembers 33'having claw-like extensions forengaging pins 33Min the lowatch pins these releasing members being norinally held against the 'lower ribs ofv the brackets-hy means of springs 34 on the latch ins. The springs normally ho'ld` these late ins in engagement with the apertures 31 in the frame for locking the prop to the frame.

. A The springs are inserted about the latch pins between the lower ribs of the brackets andwashers 35 secured ,to the latch pins between the ribs of the brackets. l When the shaft 32 is rotated by meansl of an upturned handle portion 36 on its end the latch pins are pulled downwardly -andout of engagement 'with the apertures 31, by the releasing members 33 and the springs are compressed for returning the latch pins tolatching position when the handle portion 36 is released.

In order that the latch pins can never be 'disengaged from the apertures 31 in the de- `pending* frame portion, and .the prop unlatched when in supporting oroperative position, slots 37 or elongated openings` are provided inthechannel viron side members of the .p1-op for the. pivot shaft to extend through.'A Thus' when the prop is su porting the trailer (as shown in Fig. 6) t e pivot shaft 16-is heldin the bottom-of the longated openings'by the weight of the trailer upon the pivot shaft.

The depending portion of the trailer frame moves downwardly" in relation to the prop moving the pivot rod 16 downwardly `1n t e -slot as the prop strilfes the ground and since thelatchv pins 3() are ounted upon'the prop they 'are caused to enter still further finto the apertures 31 in the base of the dep?? are withdrawn fromv the ,apertures 31.

en the trailer is supported on the rear of a drawing vehicle and the prop moves downward in relation to the leg ortion and is supported-by the pivot shaft; t e 'shaft bee ing in the upper end of the slot 37, the dis-- iis' tance that the latch pins can be translated is suicient to disengage them from the apertures (as shown in'dot-and-dash lines, Fig. f

3) for permitting swing of thepprop. vBut when the latch pins 30 are causedto enter further into the apertures 31 as before mentioned, bythe vertical movement of the. rop on its pivot, theyA cannot been'gaged l om the apertures`(as shown iii@ g. 6) and it is imlgissible tounlatclithe prop.

order that vthe latchrpins may snap into l the apertures for locking -thepro tothe izo frame, the cross-member or base" o the. leg y portion ischamferedas at 39." When the.

prop is dropped 'from raised position the chamfered heads of the latch pins strike the chamfered' portions of the cross member and the latch pins snap into place in the apertures 31. Apertures 40are provided in the braces 13 for latching the propin upper or raised position. As the prop is raised by means ofthe chain the latch pins 30 strike the-chamfered edge of a block 41 secured on the lbottom of the braces 13 and vhaving the apertures 40 therethrough, and snap into engagement with the apertures 40. The prop is thus secured in upper position by this means `and also by the mamer of' securing the handle 27 described before. The release is accomplished in the same manner as the pins are released from the apertures 31.

lVheels are shown mounted upon the axle cross member or base but it can readily be seen that \by lengthening the channel iron .sides of the prop merely a cross member need be used thereon as a support means.4 It

f is most advantageous however to have wheels on the prop for moving the trailer around in small spaces without the use' of a drawing vehicle.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. The .combination of'a tractor and a trailer, said trailer comprising. a frame, a prop pivoted to the forward or coupling end thereof and having elongated pivot apertures therein for allowing arelative vertical .movement of prop and frame, latch pins said detent adapte slidable vertically in said prop, said frame having apertures therein, and said latch pins adapted to non-releasably enter said apertures when the frame moves vertically on t-he prop into an independent load sustaining position of the trailer.

2. In a trailer of the class described adapt-- ed to be supported on'and coupled to a drawing vehicle, a frame, a prop pivotally secured to the forward end of the trailer, said prop and lframe having a relative vertical moves..

ment on the pivot, said frame having apertures therein, latch pins secured for vertical translation in said prop and engageable with said apertures for non-releasably locking sa'id prop to said frame when the frame'is moved verticallyv onv the prop into load sustaining position.

3.- In a semi-trailer of the class described, a rop pivoted to the trailer frame and vertica ly translatable in relation thereto, a de.- tent lock betweenl the frame and the prop to prevent the pivoting of the prop,l a lever adapted to withdraw said detent to permit the swinging of the rop, and a shoulder on to preventits withdrawal from the lock unless partially disengaged by the vertical translation of the prop on the frame.

4. In a trailer of the class described, adapted to have its forward end su ported on and coupled to a drawing ve icle', a

frame, a prop pivoted to said frame, at the forward end thereof, said prop adjustable as to length, locking means mounted on said prop for locking said prop to the frame,

said locking means comprising vertically mounted latch pins, andreleasing members engaging said latch pins, said frame having apertures therein for receiving the latch pins and said releasing members adapted to dis` engage said/pins from said apertures when the trailer is supported on'the drawing ve.

hicle, and'said prop vertically movable on its pivot for non-disengageably entering said latch pins into said apertures when the prop is supporting 4the forward end of the trailer.

5. In a trailer of the class described, a frame provided with wheels at the rear end thereof, a prop pivoted to the `forward end of said frame and having elongated pivot apertures therein permitting a .relative vernection thereto permitting a relative vertical I 'movement of prop and frame, latch pins vertically slidably mount-ed in saidprop, said frame having apertures therein for receiving the ends of said pins, a lever for actuating said pins, and shoulders on said (pins adapt- "ed to engage abutments on sai governing the movement of the pins, the release of said pins from the apertures oontrolled by the relative vertical movement of prop and frame.

7. In a adapted to be supported on and coupled to a drawing vehicle, a frame, a prop, a cross .fsha'ftrotatably mounted below the forward end of said frame, said prop hung on said shaft for a relative vertical movement of prop and frame, said frame having apertures therein, latch pins secured on said prop for vertical translation and engageable with said apertures for non-releasably locking said prop to said frame when the frame is moved vertically on the prop into load sustaining position, and a flexible connection from the base of the'prop to the frame at prop for trailer of the class described.'

the rear of the prop and about the cross shaft for raising the prop when the shaft is rotated and the prop is not in load sustaining position.

8. Ina semi-trailer, a pivoted prop for supporting the forward end of the trailer when the trailerjis detached from the tractor, locking means for lthe prop renderednon-releasablel by the weight-.of the trailer released to swing the prop to an inactive pov upon the prop {01E-maintaining said prop -sition hen the trailer 1s attached tothe locked, said means being rendered releasable tract p by a limited movement of the prop under its In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 5 own weight when the forward end of the my name. v

trailer is raised to relieve the prop ofthe weight of the trailer, adapting the lock to be BUFUS JONES. 

